The Utah Republican Party made it official last Saturday; It opposes an ethics initiative currently being circulated by a group known as Utahns for Ethical Government (UEG). In the resolution passed by the GOP's central committee, the Utah Republican Party cites constitutional concerns with UEG's ballot initiative and [...]
Usually when we refer to Howard Stephenson’s Utah Taxpayers Association it is to point out how they don’t represent the interests of middle-income families. But we, too, were surprised by Gov. Gary Herbert’s nomination of Michael Cragun to the Utah State Tax Commission for many of the reasons that the [...]
Democrats have labeled the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) a failure full of broken promises. Many teachers complain bitterly about the emphasis on testing. Principals hate being labeled as failures. Superintendents say it wasn't adequately funded. And many parents just view it as toxic' [...]
In an opinion piece published in the Salt Lake Tribune, Provo Republican Representative Chris Herrod makes abundantly clear: 1) no amount of scientific evidence is going to convince him global warming is real; 2) he really isn't all that familiar with the' [...]
The veterans of the War for Independence, who founded our country, waited decades for their pay.
Ten years after World War I, veterans marched on our nation’s Capitol to get their promised bonus pay. They didn’t get it. Instead, they got thrown out of town by the active military [...]
Last week Republican Representative Kay McIff advocated increasing taxes on working families through an increase in the tax on food. This week Republican Senator Howard Stephenson, President of the Utah Taxpayers Association, joined him.
Congressman Bishop wants you to know environmentalists are receiving billions, that's right billions, of your tax dollars. In an Op-ed published in the Billings Gazette Congressman Bishop points to a report prepared by a Wyoming-based law firm as proof. Sounds terrible,' [...]
According to the Provo Daily Herald - and Senator Hatch from whom they are taking their cues - it is; fear and loathing of the big bad Democratic Party and, as usual, the US Government. No one should be surprised when conservatives demonize liberals [...]
It has been one year since November 4, 2008 when the promise of the American dream and the audacity of hope for a better future was made manifest by the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.
His election brought a renewal of the inspiring words [...]
Our congratulations to former Salt Lake City Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ted Wilson on his new job as senior advisor on environmental matters to Gov. Gary Herbert.
Ted Wilson is well-known for his experience as an activist for environmental causes. The State of Utah and our citizens can greatly [...]
Republican Representative Kay McIff has renewed his push to raise the sales tax on food. With the state facing upwards of an $800 million shortfall, this time around he may actually have a reasonable shot at passing this tax hike.
After years [...]
Since 2006 the United States Justice Department’s Office of Special Council has been involved with a possible breach by Ogden City Police Chief Jon Greiner of the 1939-era Hatch Act that protects citizens from experiencing improper political pressure by federal, state and local government workers if they are principally employed [...]
There is a lot of heated debate between those who support healthcare reform and those who don't whether or not healthcare is a right or a privilege. Conservatives like to argue healthcare isn't a right. It isn't mentioned in the Constitution and besides, rights' [...]
If you listen to some folks in Congress (like Senators Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, and Congressman Rob Bishop), you would think they had nothing whatsoever to do with our current economic mess.
If you watch the actions of some folks in Congress (add Congressman [...]
There is a dangerous trend starting. Chances of serious complications from the disease are far greater than from a vaccination. Please read this article by Elizabeth Stuart at the Deseret News.
University of Utah officials are gearing up for an influx of H1N1 patients, some resulting from "exposure parties" [...]
The Deseret Morning News today joined with Senator Orrin Hatch to announce opposition to health care reform. Of course, neither Hatch nor the D-News has any real serious alternative to the various proposals passed out of committees in the House and Senate [...]
The announcement this morning that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama was a pleasant surprise.
While the prize has often been awarded to those who have toiled for many years to accomplish a worthwhile goal, it has more often been [...]
BLOGGERS BEWARE: On October 5, 2009 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) updated its 1980 regulations “Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Alarm is spreading. The government is extending its long arm into the Wild West of the World Wide Web. And its target is people who offer [...]
Listening to the punditocracy these days, it would seem that political fighting has progressed to the point where civility itself is in question: Civil War II – the commentators of CNN versus FOX.
So it is worth pointing out when even the most polarizing [...]
At some point during the past four years the Huntsman administration eagerly entered into secret negotiations with Nevada to create a pact to divide 132,000 acre-feet of water each year in the Snake Valley before the Southern Nevada Water Authority can stake its claim on [...]
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon was relaxed and thoughtful as he talked at a recent Democratic Party Central Committee meeting. He inspires support by sharing good values on some of the most pressing issues facing Utah.
Utahns have had enough of extreme right-wing politics. In [...]
It is easy to fail to take notice, ignore, forget, or play down information that does not conform with expectations. So it is important to take notice when there is a “new normal” that is evolving.
Salt Lake Tribune writer Paul Rolly did us a service with his column, [...]
Last evening a horrible moment of sheer panic gripped a number of people in Ogden, Utah when the ringing of a telephone awakened them in the middle of night from a deep sleep.
From a sleepy-haze, attention comes sharp and questions immediately fill the awaking mind:
How long has [...]The President’s address to a joint session of Congress on healthcare was soaring, inspiring, dramatic. Those in the Congressional chamber are divided, but Americans were brought together by President Obama with polls showing a positive reaction from 77% of listeners.
Yet, Republicans continue their “scorched earth” policy attempting [...]
The Utah State Democratic Party has been receiving calls all day regarding the reactionary position some Utah School Districts have taken in response to a very small minority of right wing extremists expressing paranoia over the President’s scheduled address to students around the country on Tuesday [...] Apparently it is in inappropriate for the President of the United States to urge students to work hard and take responsibility for their education. That is the message coming from the right anyway as President Obama prepares to deliver a brief message to students around the country saying just [...]
80,000 Utahns don’t have jobs right now who would like to have jobs. As people are looking at your performance, how accountable will you be for where that number is?
I’m accountable for everything now. The buck does stop with me. I cannot deflect it to anybody else. I’m [...]
Senator Orrin Hatch's friendship with Senator Ted Kennedy has gotten a lot of press in the 24 hours following the death of the long time Massachusetts Senator and "liberal lion" of the US Senate. Unfortunately, Hatch's decision to use his friend's death [...]
President Obama said today that, “The Kennedy name is synonymous with the Democratic Party.”
Portraits of President and Mrs. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy hang at the Utah State Democratic Party headquarters.
Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy was a colleague of the late Utah Senator Frank “Ted” Moss and a mentor to [...]
This past week or so has proven beyond any shadow of a doubt the far right's agenda for the summer of 2009 can be summed up in two words - "Hell no!!" It doesn't matter whether suggestions for health care reform are coming from Republicans or Democrats. If the right' [...]
Normally, Democrats in Utah have a hard time getting press attention. Rarely are we mentioned in most stories on public policy.
So it is with sincere thanks that I acknowledge the attention given to us as a lead story in today’s Paul Rolly’s column in the Salt Lake Tribune [...]
Here are just a few of the thousands of Utah health insurance stories that have been collected at:
Craig - Salt Lake City, UT
My daughter developed an joint condition at an early age. She has attempted to get insurance, and because of her pre-existing condition, has [...]
As someone whose family includes doctors who count many Utahns as patients and as a father who wants a healthy future for his children, I have a deep commitment to passing comprehensive, deficit-neutral health care reform. Such an overhaul should lower costs for Utah families and businesses, increase the quality [...]
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
I owe Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin a thank you card. Inspired by their mastery of the art of deception I felt it was my responsibility to [...]
Politics in Utah are changing dramatically as Utah’s current Governor Jon Huntsman plans to leave his current job for a new one as the United States Ambassador to China.
This has lead to a shake up at the top levels of Utah’s government.
Today Governor-in-waiting Gary Herbert announced [...]
Congressman Jim Matheson released the following statement today:
It’s an honor for me to represent Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives. The interest expressed in my future plans as far as running for the U.S. Senate or Governor of Utah is very flattering. At this time, I feel that [...]
The decision of Utah’s Senators Hatch and Bennett to vote against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor appears to be entirely about partisan politics and political survival.
From his questions [...]
In spite of the fact 10 of the hottest years on record occurred between 1997 and 2008, temperatures have moderated somewhat since 1998. In fact, 2008 was the coolest year since 2000, though still the ninth warmest year recorded. Global warming skeptics have been [...]
Washington Post reports that “Lacking unity on an alternative agenda to Obama's health-care plans, Republicans have instead focused on a strategy of rallying public opposition,” and that “The RNC started running ads blasting the Democratic proposals, and William Kristol, editor of the conservative magazine the Weekly Standard, implored [...]
"We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best [...]
In today's New York Times political blog, The Caucus, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is spouting off again about how Americans want "to preserve the choice and quality that our current system provides." Which Americans is he talking about?
I have been fortunate to occasionally enjoy [...]
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, a state employee enjoying some of the best healthcare benefits available, has somewhere between $50,000 and $130,000 in outstanding medical bills as a result of surgeries related to a motorcycle accident. If [...]
While the political world is fighting about healthcare reform, the public seems largely in the dark about what is actually being proposed.
It is no wonder that the public isn’t in on the details.
Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) said on Face the Nation this [...]
The Deseret News reports on a Utah Taxpayer’s Association study- Utahns to get federal tax refund in 2010:
For all the complaining some GOP Utah politicians do about federal taxation, a new study finds an amazing fact:
The typical Utah family — which will make just over $63,000 for [...]
The corporate news media's bias isn't toward ideology...it is toward making money. If they couldn't make a ton of money off of President Obama, they wouldn't be covering him nearly as much as they do. -- Comment from BradKT on Politico’s story on the ratings bonanza for coverage of' [...]
Campaign financing is the most heavily regulated industry in America per dollar of financial activity. Private financing of campaigns creates an ethical schism that pits the concept of a “public office is a public trust” against “those who pay the piper call the tune.”
Yesterday’s Salt Lake Tribune [...]
We had the pleasure of visiting with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon last evening. He described Salt Lake County’s main budget problem is that with interest rates so low county investments likely will yield $9.4 million less than expected this year. Similar shortfalls are predicted in 2010.
It strikes [...]
This op-ed by then State Party Vice Chair Rob Miller was published in the Davis Clipper:
Our country faces the significant challenges of fighting two wars, nuclear proliferation, a fiscal crisis, rising debt, dependence on foreign oil, rising energy costs, and a failing healthcare system. We have a simple [...]
In a free market economy the duty of the enterprise is to maximize returns to its shareholders.
An insurer charges premiums and makes its return after costs and claims are paid. Thus, to the extent an insurer can avoid insuring sick people, deny coverage, reduce or delay payments or [...]
Wayne Holland, Jr. has just recently been announced as the winner of the Utah State Democratic Party Chair race. Thus, he will serve out a third term as the Party's Chair for the next two years. Wayne appreciates all the supporters who have made his re-election [...] 
There are a lot of Democrats who regularly use Twitter as a social networking tool.
A number of them will be using the hashtag #utpol, which covers a broad spectrum of Utah political issues. We also encourage them to use the hashtag #utdem on items specifically pertaining to the [...]
A theme seems to be spontaneously emerging for the state convention attendees: going green. Not eco-conscious green, but literally, the color green.
As the people of Iran take to the streets, rallies have sprung up across the globe in solidarity with Iranians protesting the results of last week’s election. Green [...]
The journey of fatherhood provides unique and lasting joys. Cradling a baby in his arms, a father experiences the miracle of life and an unbreakable bond. Fathers imagine a world of possibilities awaiting their children and contemplate the privilege of helping them reach that expanse of opportunity. As kids grow [...]
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie M. Rollins issued the following statement commemorating Juneteenth:
“On this day in 1865, emancipation finally made it west, freeing the last slaves in Texas. So today, we commemorate the end of slavery in America and honor all those throughout our [...]
The headline at the Deseret News caught my eye, “Herbert skeptical but concerned.” The article seemed to be an apologia, or defense, of Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert’s retreat from Huntsman published in the Salt Lake Tribune that he is not convinced of the need to address climate change, [...]
Yesterday, Congress did something many thought impossible. They acted in a bipartisan manner overcoming heavy lobbyist pressure to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to examine what goes into tobacco products, ban those ingredients deemed dangerous to health, and limit marketing and sales.
The measure, HR1256, was nearly [...]
Starting today legislators from around the country are meeting in San Francisco to hear the latest about redistricting from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Sadly, Utah House Speaker Dave Clark chairs NCSL’s redistricting efforts. His solution is to be more like Utah -- avoid accountability and confound the [...]
The credit bubble creates too much new housing stock and then government rebates help sell it off. First, too much. Then, too little. Will it ever get to be just right?
Yesterday, the Deseret News reported the end of the state's three month old "Home Run" housing grant program' [...]
Monday Sen. Orrin Hatch went on FOX News to attack healthcare reform legislation. He was on message using Frank Luntz talking points. The problem is those talking points do not address the legislation that is actually proposed.
According to Igor Volsky at ThinkProgress.org, contrary to Hatch’s insistence that [...]
According to Reuters news service, the Obama administration is set to announce next week a comprehensive package of fiscal system reforms in response to the worst financial crisis in generations.
A centerpiece of the proposal is to establish a "systemic risk regulator" that would monitor and intervene to address potential [...]
Starting on Sunday, the Western Governor’s Association is meeting in Park City. Expected at the meeting are eleven Western Governors and three Western Canadian Premiers and 500 attendees including Obama Administration officials, other VIPs and industry and non-governmental leaders from the West, across the country and around the world.
Water, [...]
Sen. Bob Bennett misses the point of Utahns concerns when he tries to burnish his “conservative” credentials in his Romney-Bennett dynastic television advertising campaign. He is quick becoming the very definition of which Katon Dawson speaks.
From Politico: Katon Dawson, former South Carolina Republican Party chairman predicts the economic [...]
Conventional wisdom among the punditocracy holds that being selected as the next Lieutenant Governor is a good stepping stone to becoming Utah’s Governor. It was stated well in these excerpts from today’s Utah Policy:
The job of lieutenant governor is sometimes considered a second-class job, not worthy of a [...]
At an exciting event earlier today, Sam Granato announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.
The event was well attended including members of his family, friends like Frank and Barbara Layden (pictured below), business associates, elected officials, former elected officials [...]
Yesterday, I wrote about the saga of accused Ponzi schemer Rick Koerber and how his fair-weather politician friends are now trying to downplay their relationship and the work they did on his behalf.
Here’s a reminder:
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff declined an interview request by KSL on Koerber, but his [...]
Voters rank honesty pretty high when trying to decide which candidates to support. So, in 2006 when the Democratic Party publicized candidate Carl Wimmer’s support for school vouchers and he denied it despite taking large sums of campaign cash from Parents for Choice in Education, we knew that in the [...]
The Thursday, May 28 issue of the Deseret Morning News has an article about the "hidden tax" on health insurance created by the rising number of uninsured. It is already a well established fact Americans pay more for health insurance than citizens of any [...]
The punditocracy has warned us that the Republicans are so divided these days that they need a hot fight to unite them. Former Vice President Cheney and Karl Rove picking on Gen. Colin Powell and elevating Rush Limbaugh has produced a schism that they need to close over. Further, in [...]
With at least two challengers looking likely from the right, and so called "tea baggers" upset with his vote on bailouts for major banks, Senator Bennett decided yesterday his re-election strategy rests at least in part on standing up for banks and sticking it [...]
No major political happening occurs without someone trying to measure the public opinion – even before the news has had time to sink in.
The Deseret News and KSL charged first out of the gate.
These are the “for fun” polls that are entertaining but ultimately result in [...]
Chair Wayne Holland and I left Salt Lake City for the biannual state party training ritual sponsored by the Association of State Democratic Chairs last Wednesday morning.
This year’s festivities were hosted in Richmond, Virginia by DNC Chair and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. Like most of these events it [...]
One of the best things about becoming involved in a political party is the opportunity to meet a large number of people that do remarkable things to help make all our lives better and weave together the strong foundations of a community.
Recently we have been mourning the death of [...]
The following has been submitted to The St. George Spectrum and The Uintah Basin Standard in response to an Op-ed by Senator Orrin Hatch critical of President Obama's first 100 days in office.
Wayne Holland
Chair, Utah State Democratic Committee
In' [...]
On Cinco de Mayo, 2009 Americans of all backgrounds have much to celebrate. In addition to a celebration of the 1862 Mexican defeat of a French Emperor supportive of the confederacy at the height of our own Civil War, Cinco de Mayo is a symbol [...]
This is a repeat of a blog post of Boyd Peterson from a month ago that I had missed. It is long. but worth some attention.
Boyd Petersen was a candidate for the State House District 64 in Provo, Utah in 2008. He received 31.5% of the vote – [...]
From Paul Rolly at the Salt Lake Tribune:
“Popular deli chain owner Sam Granato will run for Sen. Bob Bennett's seat in 2010.
Granato, who owns several Granato's delis throughout the Salt Lake Valley, also is chairman of the Utah Liquor Control Commission. He confirmed to me Thursday [...]
Utah State Democratic Party Chair Wayne Holland today released this comment on the first one hundred days of the Obama administration:
“Utah voters have little patience for ideological debate. They want a pragmatic leader who honestly tells them exactly what they intend to do and then do it. They want [...]
Today we take stock of what President Obama has accomplished in his first few months in office and talk about what Democrats are committed to doing in the future to get the economy moving again.
The President should be proud of what he has gotten done so far with strong [...]
IMPACT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ECONOMIC POLICIES ON UTAH
Working Families:
Making Work Pay: The President’s tax-cut – which covers more Americans than any in history – is putting more than $500 million back in the pockets of more than 900,000 hard-working Utah families.
$22,365,594 to support child care for working [...]
REAL RESULTS IN UTAH
Thanks to the Obama Administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, real impact is already being felt across the state.
Ogden-Based Concrete Company Started Work on First UT Road Project Funded by ARRA; Some Workers Who Were Laid Off Have Been Called Back to Work. “An [...]
PARKS
Utah parks and monuments will receive $24.1 million worth of projects from stimulus money
Arches National Park: $78,000 to construct a flood diversion wall. Bryce Canyon National Park: $579,000 for projects including restoring the historical Bristlecone Trail and demolishing and replacing a comfort station to meet requirements for the [...]My most memorable experience with Bill Orton was a trip with him and Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland to Delta to meet with some fellow Democrats and community leaders. Coming from the environmental non-profit community I had some preconceived notions about Bill’s take on the establishment of the Grand [...]
My dad was so excited when Bill won his election.
He could finally be called the “senior” Democratic Member of Congress from Utah--since he had someone to be senior to!
Bill served with honor, competence, and distinction. I came to know him even better after he left office [...]
This last year has been Bill's gift to our family. After the past decade living in severe pain, undergoing multiple back surgeries and an emergency heart bypass, Bill understood the precious nature of time with those he loved. He lived selflessly to build long-lasting memories for me and our two' [...]
